Rail and wheel flange lubricator



June 20, 1939.

E. OVERMIER ET AL RAIL AND WHEEL fLANGE LUBRICATOR 4 Filed June 4, 1937:5 Sheets-Sheet 1 InJ nToT's fliwzzei 2 27720175 fiolnasz ttOT'TlQ 5 andJune 20, 1939. a. OVERMIER El AL 2,163,288

RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed June 4, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2June 20, 1939. E. O\/ERMIER El AL 2,153,288

RAIL AND WHEEL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed June 4, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE signments', t'oPoor &Company, Chicago, 111., a' corporation of Delaware Application June 4,1937, Serial No. 146,422

Claims.

This invention relates to rail and wheel flange lubricators andparticularly to apparatus of this character. adapted to dischargelubricant laterally onto the gauge side of a rail headfrom a locationintermediate the side faces of said rail head.

In certain apparatus of the above general character heretofore proposed,the side face of the rail head is formed with along recess and adistributing. barfitted into such recess in a manner to provide a seriesof elongated openings through which the lubricant is dischargedoutwardly with relation to the rail head. Such apparatus is difficult toconstruct andinstall since the recess in the side of the rail headextends the full length of the distributing bar, usually 6 to 12 feetlong and must be formed with arhigh degree of accuracy. It isimpractical to form a recess of such length in a rail head while therail is positioned-in the track. The usual and customary practice is toremove a section of the rail and insert in'its place a rail sectionwhich has been previously recessed and the lubricant distributing barfitted therein at the factory. This practice is very undesirable in thatit involves considerable labor and expense in removing the rail section,transporting it to the factory to be recessed and inhandling andtransporting the rail sections with the distributing barattached.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide, in anapparatus of the above general character, improved constructions wherebysuitable recesses can be formed in the rail head and the lubricantdistributing member fitted thereinwithout disturbing the position of therail in the track. In this connection, the present invention includesthe provision of a lubricant distributing bar positioned in the fishingspace at one side of a rail with capacity for vertical and angularadjustment and provided with a plurality of upwardly extending pocketelements from which the lubricant is discharged. The said pocket ordelivery elements are relatively thin transversely of the rail head andare adapted to fit into shallow recesses formed at spaced locations inthe side face of the rail head. The said recesses being of shallow depthand of relatively short length, in relation to the length of thedistributing member, can be readily and conveniently formed withportable grinding and cutting devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide. a lubricant distributingmember having a novel and compact arrangement of lubricant supply andbranch ducts which are so proportioned as to provide uniform resistanceto the movement of lubricant and thereby deliver uniformquantities oflubricant to the several discharge pockets.

Another object is to provide a" lubricant distributor of the abovecharacter which can be interchangeably fitted on rails of differentsizes and which may be adjusted vertically of the rail so as to insuredischarge of the lubricant at such locations relative to the top of therail head as will be most suitable for the particular speed of trafficand other conditions atthe location where the lubricating apparatus isinstalled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedetailed description of the embodiments of the invention shown in thedrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is aplan view of a portion of a railroad track showing a trackand wheel flange lubricating apparatus; constructed in accordance withthis invention, applied on the rail.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of mechanism adapted to be operated;by the passing of atrain over the track, to operate a lubricant pump. I

Fig. 3 is a side view of a lubricant distributing bar constructed inaccordance with this invention showing certain discharge pockets of" thedistributor arranged in the several recesses formed inthe rail head.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3 toillustrate the main and branchducts for the lubricant.

Fig. 5 is across-sectional View taken online 55 of Fig. 1- looking. inthe direction of the arrow and illustrating the manner in whichthelubricant distributor and the wheel actuated mechanism, for operatingthe lubricant pump; are secured to-the base'portion of a rail.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating a lubricantdistributor modified in construction so that the lubricant dischargeopenings ofthe lubricant pockets may be raised and lowered with relationto the top surface of the rail head, and.

Fig. 7 is a'detailviewof one element used in forming. the lubricantpockets.

The embodiment of the invention shown in- Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive may bedescribed briefly as comprising. a lubricant supply reservoir 9, a pumpI0, of suitable construction, associated with the supply reservoir, apump operating mechanism l l extending from the pump to a positionadjacent a railroad rail and. adapted to be actuated by trains passingover the rail, one or more lubricant distributing members l2 arrangedalong the gauge side of the railroad rail so as to directlubricant intothe'space' between the side face of the rail head I3 and the flanges ofcar wheels passing over the rail; and suitable piping, for example,pipes I4--I4 for connecting the lubricant pump III with the distributingmember, or members I2, as the case may be.

The reservoir 9 is preferably arranged at one side of the track and isembedded in the ground at a suitable distance from the track so as to befree of all movements of the track structure. The pump I0 may be of anysuitable. construction and is mounted in close relation to the lubricantsupply, preferably, on the side of the reservoir 9. A flexible shaftstructure I5, forming a part of the operating mechanism II, extends fromthe pump II] to a supporting bearing I6 fixed to the rail I3. Theflexible shaft structure, in addition to the flexible joint membersI'I-ll includes a shaft section I8 which slidably receives the shaftsection I9 so that the shaft structure will automatically adjust itslength to compensate for any verticalror lengthwise movements of therail I3. The section I9 of the shaft structure is provided at its innerend with a lever arm 20 which is engaged by a lever 2| pivoted at 22 ina bracket 23 fixed to the rail and the said lever 2I is normallysupported in a' position whereby the portion 24 thereof will extendabove the top surface of the rail head and in the path of travel of thecar wheels. In the present embodiment the lever 2| and the lever arm 20are maintained in the position indicated in Fig. 2 by means of a spring(not shown) associated with the pump I0. 7

It will be observed, from the above description, that car wheels passingalong the rail I3 will depress the lever 2I and thereby .rock the lever20 and the flexible shaft structure I I in a manner to impart anoperating movement to the pump III. The operation of the pump withdrawslubri-V cant from the reservoir 9 and forces itthrough the supply pipesI4--I4 to the inlet ports of the distributing members I2 of theapparatus.

The lubricant distributing members I2--I2 are preferably identical inconstruction. It will be sufficient, therefore, to describe the detailsof 1 construction of only one of these members.

The lubricant distributor comprises a bar structure 25 which extendslengthwise of the rail, and a plurality of lubricant pockets designatedA, B, C'and D which extend upwardly from the bar into recesses 26 formedatspaced locations in the sideface of the rail head I3. The saidrecesses open through the side and bottom surfaces of the rail head butterminate at a suitable distance below the top surface thereof. Thedepth of the recesses, transversely ofrthe rail, correspondsubstantially to the thickness of the lubricant pocket members so thatthe outer faces of the pockets will extend inthe plane of the side faceof the rail head. It is not essential, however,

that the recesses 26 conform to accurate measurements throughout, sincethe area of the lubricant discharge passages of the several pocketsdepends upon the construction of the pocket members and their positionsin the recesses. For this reason, the recesses may be formed in the railhead by using portable grinding and cutting implements and withoutdisturbing the position of the rail in the track.

Each of the lubricant pockets A, B, C, and D comprises a front plate 21,a back plate 28, and a spacing plate 29, the latter of which is cutaway,

as indicated by the reference numeral 3Il, in Fig.

'7, to provide the lubricant space of a pocket. The said plates 21, 28and 29 are preferablysecured together with spot Welds 3| and the severalpocket assemblies are clamped in their properly spaced relation betweenplates 32 and 33 of the bar structure 25.

Lubricant is carried from the supply pipe I4 to the several pocketsthrough main and branch ducts formed in the bar structure 25 of thedistributor. The-main or supply duct designated 34 in the drawings is achannel formed in the inner face of the front plate 35 of the barstructure. This duct extends lengthwise of the bar near its upper edgetopoints midway between the pockets AB and C-D. The open side of theduct is closed by means of a closure plate 36. This plate also serves asa closure for branch ducts 31-31 formed in the outer face of plate 33.The said branch ducts connect the pockets AB and CD and communicate,through openings 38 in the closure plate 36, with the extremities of themain duct 34. By making the main and branch ducts in the form of openchannels, they can be readily and accurately formed of proper lengthsand cross-sectional areas to equalize the flow of lubricant to each ofthe several pockets. The main and branch lubricant ducts are preferablyarranged in the same horizontal plane. This arrangement makes itpracticable to position both ducts near the upper edge of the barstructure 25, whereby the vertical dimensions of the bar may beminimized and thereby permit the bar as a whole to be adjustedvertically in the fishing spaceof the rail. The said arrangement oflubricant ducts in the bar structure presents a further advantage inthat the several plates of the bar structure may be clamped together bymeans of bolts 39 extending through the several plates 32, 33, 35 and 36of the bar at locations below lubricant supply and branch ducts.

The lubricant distributor and the wheel actuated mechanism are securedto the rail, with capacity for adjustment thereon by means of supportingclamps 49 and 4!. The supporting clamp II comprises a jaw member 42adapted to engage one flange of a rail base and has an upwardlyext'endingarm 43 which is slotted at 6.4 to receive a bolt 45 forclamping the bracket member 23 to the said arm of the clamp jaw. At theother side of the rail a jaw member 46 engages over the rail base in aposition to support the lubricant distributor of the apparatus. The jawmembers 42-46 of the clamp are held in clamping engagement with the railbase by means of a wedge bolt 41. The supporting clamp may be andpreferably is the same in construction as the clamp just describedexcept that the jaw member designated 42a has no upwardly extendingportion 43.

The lubricant distributor is adjustably secured to the jaw members 46 ofthe brackets ill-4| by means of angle members 4949, secured to the frontplate of the bar structure 25, and clamping bolts 5Il5!l. Suitable shims5I-52 are interposed between the angle members and'the top surface ofthe clamp jaws for adjusting the vertical and angular positions of thedistributing bar with relation to the upper extremity of the recesses 26and with relation to the side face of the rail head. In Fig. 5 the shim5 2 is bent upon itself at one end to form a Wedge adapted to supportthe distributor at a suitable angle, whereby the outer faces of thepockets are held at an angle. corresponding to the inclination of theside face of the rail head.

The operation of the-apparatus may be summarized as followsr/Ihe Wheelsof a train passing alonga trackengage and depress the lever 2I.

This movement" of the lever imparts a partial rotation; to the; flexibleshaft it which in turn operates the pump Ills to-force lubricant throughthe-supply pipe M, main lubricant duct 3 and branch duct31-31;.into'thepockets A, B,,C and D; The lubricant discharged from thesaid pockets is directed laterally and upwardly into the'space betweentherail head and the wheel flanges by the top Walls 55 of the recesses26. When: a heavy lubricant is used, for example, a heavy grease;v thegrease extruded. from the pockets forms a ridge or bead which extendsacross the: pockets andralong the gauge side of. the railhead; This bodyof grease will: retain its form onthe side ofthe face of the railheadand will: have wiping contact with the wheel flanges:

1 walls 5:1 of the lubricant pockets are formed at their upper ends withangular portions 53 which overlie thedischarge openings of the pocketsso as to direct thelubri'cant laterally and upwardly into thespace'between the side face of the rail head-and: the wheel flanges. Inaccordance with thisembodiment the discharge opening 59 of the pocketsmay be readily and conveniently adjustedivertically with relation to thetop" surface of the rail'. head. This manner of adjustment permits thelubricant distributor to be accurately set, with regard to the speed of:the traffic and other? conditions at the locationof the lubricator and.thereby insures efficient lubrication ofthe track. by applying suchquantities of lubricant tofth'e' wheelrflanges' as will be best suitedfor the particular service conditions.

We claim:

1. Arailtand wheelfiange lubricating apparatus comprising a railroadrail, the head. portion of which is recessed at locations spacedlongitudinally ofthe rail, which'recessesopen through the gauge sideface and the under surface of the rail head adjacent said face andterminated at locations below the top surface of the head, and alubricant distributing member extending lengthwise ofthe rail andprovided with lubricant delivery members havinglubricant ducts thereinleading to the upper ends thereof and the said members extendingupwardly into said recesses to pointsadjacent the upper ends thereof,whereby lubricant discharged from said delivery members is directedlaterally and upwardly to the side face of the rail head;

2; A rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus comprising'arailroad'rail, thehead portion of which is recessed at lo'cations spacedlongitudinally o-f'the' rail, which recesses open through the gauge'sidefaceand" the under surface; of the rail head adjacent said face butterminate at locations below the top surface of the? head, and alubricant distributing member extending lengthwise ofthe'raili andprovided with lubricant delivery members having lubricant ducts thereinleading to the upper ends thereof and the said members extendingupwardly into said recesses to points adjacent the upper ends thereof,and with the outer faces of said delivery members extending in the planeof the side face of the rail head.

3. A rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus comprising a railroadrail, the head portion of which is recessed at locations spacedlongitudinallyof; the rail, which recesses open through theg'auge' sideface andv the under surface of the rail head adjacent said face butterminate at locations below the'top-surfaceof the head, and a lubricantdistributing member extending length- Wise of the rail and provided withlubricant delivery members having lubricant outlet ports in their upperends and the said members extending' upwardly into said recesses topoints adjacent the upper ends thereof, and means for adjustablysupporting. said distributing member on the rail, whereby the positionsof the outlets of said: lubricant ductsrelative to the upper ends of therecesses may be varied.

4; Arail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus comprising a railroadrail, the head portion of which is recessed at locations spaced longitudnally of. therail, which recesses open through the gauge side face andthe under surface of the rail head adjacent said face but terminate atlocations below the top surface of the head, and

a lubricant distributing member extending lengthwise of the rail andprovided with lubricant delivery members having lubricant ducts thereinleading to the upper ends thereof and the said members extendingupwardly into said recesses to points-adjacent the upper ends thereof,the said delivery members being in the form of relatively wide but thinpockets with their outer faces extending in the plane of the side faceof the rail head; supporting brackets on which the distributing memberismounted, and means interposed between the brackets and the distributingmemberfori adjusting the vertical andangular positionsof the saidpocketsrelative to the rail head.

5. A rail and wheel-flange. lubricating apparatus comprising a railroadrail, the head portion of which is recessed at locations spacedlongitudinall'y'of. the. rail, whichrecesses open through thegaugesidefaeeand the under'surface of the rail head' adjacent. said facebut terminate at lccationsbelow: the top surface of the head, and alubricant distributing. member extending lengthwise ofthe-railTandprovidedwith pockets having outlet. openings for discharginglubricant: laterally'th'erefrom, and means for adjustably supportingsaid pockets in said. recesses whereby'the positions of the outletopenings may be varied" with relation to the top of the rail head;

6.. In a rail. and flange wheel lubricating apparatus, a lubricantdistributor comprising a bar structure for extending lengthwise of arail and having a. plurality of lubricant outlet pockets adapted to.extend: into. recesses formed in the lower' portion. of the gauge sideface of a rail head, there being. a lubricant supply duct formed in.and" extending: lengthwise of the bar and branch ducts of uniform lengthleading from the extremities of the supply ductto the said outletpockets 7;. In a rail and wheel lubricatingapparatus, a lubricantdistributor comprising a bar structure for extending lengthwise of arail and having apluralityof lubricant outlet pockets adapted to extendinto recesses formed in the lower portion of the gauge side face of arail head, there being a lubricant supply duct formed in and extendinglengthwise of the bar and branch ducts extending lengthwise of the barat locations intermediate the supply duct and said pockets forconnecting the pockets with the supply duct.

8. In a rail and Wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricantdistributor comprising a bar structure for extending lengthwise of arail and having a plurality of lubricant pockets adapted to extend intorecesses formed in the lower portion of the gauge side face of the railhead, there being a lubricant supply duct formed in and extendinglengthwise of the bar and branch ducts extending in the horizontal planeof the supply duct and connecting the supply duct with the lubricantpockets.

9. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricantdistributor comprising a bar structure extending lengthwise of the rail,a plurality of lubricant pockets extending upwardly from the barstructure and adapted to extend into relatively shallow recesses formedin the side face of the rail head, each of said pockets comprising afront plate, a back plate, and an intermediate spacer plate having arecess extending downwardly from its upper edge and defining the size ofthe lubricant pocket, there being a main lubricant duct extendinglengthwise of the bar and branch ducts leading from the extremities ofthe main duct to the lubricant pockets.

10. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricantdistributor comprising a bar structure extending lengthwise of the rail,a plurality of lubricant pockets extending upwardly from the barstructure and adapted to extend into relatively shallow recesses formedin the side face of the rail head, each of said pockets comprising afront plate, a back plate, and an intermediate spacer plate having arecess extending downwardly from its upper edge and defining the size ofthe lubricant pocket; the upper edge portion of the back plate beingturned outwardly toward the side face of the rail to direct thelubricant laterally and upwardly when it is discharged from the saidpockets.

11. In a rail and'wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricantdistributor comprising in combination a bar structure extendinglengthwise of the rail, a pluralityof lubricant pockets extendingupwardly from the bar structure and adapted to extend into relativelyshallow recesses formed in the side face of the rail head, each of saidpockets comprising a front plate, a back plate, and an intermediatespacer plate, a portion of which is cut away to define the size of thepocket, and means for raising and lowering the pockets relative to thetop of the rail head so as to vary the elevation'of the dischargeopening of said pockets.

12. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricantdistributing member comprising a plurality of pocket elements from whichlubricant is adapted to be discharged into the space between a side faceof the rail head and the flanges of the wheels passing along the rail,and a bar structure for supporting said pocket elements comprising afront plate having a channel in its inner face to provide a main supplyduct for lubricant, a closure plate for said channel, a second platehaving lubricant branch ducts therein for connecting said lubricantpockets in pairs, and means forclamping the said plates together, therebeing openings in the closure plate through which the said branch ductscommunicate with the lubricant supply duct.

13. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricantdistributing member com pockets in pairs, and means for clamping saidplates together, there being openings in the 010- sure platethroughwhich the said branch ducts communicate with the lubricant supplyducts and openings leading from the extremities of the branch ducts tothe said pockets.

14. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricantdistributing member comprising a plurality of pocket elements arrangedin spaced relation to eachvother'at one side of the rail and adapted todirect lubricant into the space between a side face of a rail head andthe flanges of car wheels passing along the rail, a pair of platesbetween which the pocket elements are clamped, the outer plate of whichis formed with spaced channels in its outer face, each channelconnecting a pair of lubricant pockets, a closure plate for closing saidchannels, a front plate formed in its inner face with a lubricant supplychannel which is closed by said closure plate, there being openingsthrough the closure plate for connecting the extremities of the supplychannel with the said spaced channels at locations midway between theconnected lubricant pockets, and means for clamping the said pockets andplates in their assembled relation.

15. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, a lubricantdistributing member comprising a plurality of pocket elements arrangedin spaced relation to each other at one side of the rail and adapted todirect lubricant into the space between a side face of a rail head andthe flanges of car wheels passing along the rail, a pair of platesbetween which the pocket elements are clamped, the outer plate of whichis formed with spaced channels in its outer face, each channelconnecting a pair of lubricant pockets, a closure plate for closing saidchannels, a front plate formed in its inner face with a lubricant supplychannel which is closed by said closure plate, there being openingsthrough the closure plate for connecting the extremities of the supplychannel with the said spaced channels at locations midway between theconnected lubricant pockets, and means for clamping the said pockets andplates in their assembled relation comprising bolts extending throughthe said plates and pockets at locations below the said supply andspaced channels.

EMMONS OVERMIER. THOMAS E. RODMAN.

. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No, 2,16 ,288. J'unQ'ZO, 19 9. jEmo'Ns OVERMIER, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,first column, line 1 8, claim 1, for the word "terminated" readterminate; same page, second column, line 55, claim 6, for "flangewheel"read wheel flange; line 6). claim after "wheel" insert flange; and thatthe said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe. same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Cffice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day' of August, A. D. 1959. I t 3 LeslieFrazer (Seal) Acting Commiesioner of Patents.

